Power for the Peaceful: A Course in Tao

Mar 07 2025 78 ep. 30 mins 14
Power for the Peaceful: A Course in Tao Podcast artwork

What is Taoism/Daoism? "Power for the Peaceful" is an introductory course PLUS life-applications of the 81 verses of the Tao te Ching, a 2500 year-old Chinese text that has lost nothing of its power for peace today.

  Religion & Spirituality
RSS feed Share
Copy RSS


Subscribe on Podcast Addict


Verse 69: “Befriending the Enemy Within"

Mar 07 2025 36 mins  
Today, Verse 69. The centerpiece of today’s verse is captured in a story I tell about being in the presence of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It’s a story that anyone who has an enemy may want to consider. Today’s awesome guest is Chad Smith, and his contact info is here: https://houseofmercyavl.com/connectReminder! Along with Chandler Schroeder, I am beginning a new serie

Verse 68: "Heaven? Or Hell?"

Mar 01 2025 37 mins  
: This verse 68 is a work-out from verse 67’s three treasures: unconditional mercy, simplicity of wants, and humility. A personoperating from this strong triad of foundational virtues is not lured by the hell of violence, and encourages others to see the heavenly, peaceful way. Reminder! Along with Chander Schroeder, I ambeginning a new series of podcasts called “The Technicolo

Teaser for Podclass: Technicolor Dreamcoat of Religion

Feb 22 2025 6 mins  
Subscribe for the episodes when they come out at Please subscribe!! Stay in touch by pressing “Subscribe” at “The Technicolor Dreamcoat of Religion” where you can subscribe now for updates and our first semester of classes on how religions get made. (https://www.youtube.com/@TechnicolorDreamcoatofReligion)

Verse 67: "Simple Gifts"

Feb 20 2025 31 mins  
Chandler Schroeder returns as my associate today to help us figure out how the triple treasures of kindness, simplicity, and humility are part of our very being, or as Oko Yono said, “We’ve been filled with great treasure for one purpose: to bespilled.” For the Buddhist listener, these three treasures are our guides to counter the Three Poisons (Hatred, Greed, and Delusion) y

Verse 66: "Upside-Down Leadership"

Feb 17 2025 19 mins  
Leadership, whether in nations, schools and homes today is usually of a style that preaches, however subtly, “You need me to save, teach or parent you.” But the truth is that the leader is the paragon of being a follower. So once again, Tao overturns our expectations, turning our norms upside-down, where leadership is following, teaching is a return to being a learner, and pare

Verse 65: "Return to Wisdom"

Feb 08 2025 47 mins  
What a treat this time! I have a local Taoist Reading Club joining me for Verse 65, a community within this magical Christian church in Asheville called “House of Mercy”. We look at a most-timely topic: How government leaders hoodwink the people with confusing, "clever" information that passes for knowledge, and colonizing citizens into settling for less than they act

Verse 64: How Things Begin, Pt. 2

Feb 04 2025 30 mins  
Today’s verse 64 we return to consider how things begin, and how we can understand wisely how to (i) let them begin and then grow without my meddling, and (ii) how to live attentively to the entire processes range of Tao’s wisdom for living. Chandler Schroeder, who has been on our show twice already, is our voice today. Today, Chandler and I announced there will be more podcas

Verse 63: How Things Begin, pt. 1

Jan 17 2025 43 mins  
This verse 63 will pair up with 64’s themes. (i) Act with simplicity; avoid meddling, so you can align yourself with the natural flow of life. (ii) Pay attention to beginnings. The small will become large, so address your first steps or beginnings with care and foresight. And (iii) live with true-true integrity, and focus on matching your actions with situations, and abandon th

Verse 62 "Inner Light"

Jan 02 2025 29 mins  
What if there is an inner refuge or sanctuary, one ultimately untouchable by any force you may know? There is! This refuge is where we have our true identities, our true calling as humans, and our true destiny. This Tao-logic and teaching about our inner light that never goes out ... it neutralizes the cheap, over-loud voices that would tell us anything – ANYthing otherwise. Who

Verse 61: Tao's Diplomacy

Dec 18 2024 44 mins  
Nature teaches true power, the power of being open, helpful, and that this power is deeper than our egotistical searches for other kinds of power. As Nina Sabatino, my partner for this verse, said herein, the not-pursing of power can be the beginning of a revolution. The only power of Tao that is real and lasting is the NOT-pursuing power. Be like water, descending low, lower, and